Improvement in devices for preventing myopia



D. MORSE. Device for Preventing Myopia.

Patented Aug. 20,1878.

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Hiram. Pno

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

DAVID MORSE, OF LANCASTER, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR PREVENTING MYOPIA.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 207,198, dated August20, 1878; application filed May 10, 18782 To all whom it may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, DAVID Monsn, of Lancaster, in the county of Erie andState of New York, have invented an Improved Eye Guide and Indicator,which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification andaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view,and Fig. 2 a side elevation.

This invention is intended for use by pupils in schools,"or forotherequivalent purposes. Its object is to prevent habits leading tonearsightedness; and it consists of a suitable means for holding a bookor other object to be read or examined, in combination with a devicewhereby the distance of the eyes therefrom may be controlled andindicated, and by which a stooping posture of the head may be prevented,as will be more clearly hereinafter shown by reference to the drawing,in which- A represents the frame for supporting the book-rack anddistance-bar. B is the book rack or rest. It is hinged to thecross-piece A at G O, and is represented as made of wire, but it may beof wood or other suitable material. D is a device for adjusting itsinclination. (An ordinary pawl and rack would be an equivalent for it.)

E E represent springs for holding a book open and in place. If desired,the book-holder may be made and fixed at a suitable inclination withoutthe adjusting device D, and, in place of the springs E E, pins may bearranged to hold the book open or in position. This could be done inschools where the books do not differ much in size.

F represents the adjuster and distance-indicator. It consists of a bentrod or wire, either square or round, provided with a cross-piece, F, orits equivalent, in the form of a ball or knob, or the top of the rod maybe rounded and smooth without plate or knob.

If desired," the plate or ball, if used, may be made adjustablevertically. It is made adjustable horizontally by means of the set-screwG. A friction-spring may be used instead of the set-screw, or the rodmay be perforated and a pin used to fasten it at any necessary point ofits horizontal adjustment, all of which would be equivalents. The rod 1may be reversed and the shorter end used in a vertical position whenrequired, and, if desired, figures, II, may be placed on the frame toindicate the horizontal adjustment of the same.

The rod F maybe fixed and the book-rest made adjustable horizontally andaccomplish the same result.

As a guide for writing purposes the bookrack may be dispensed with. Inthat case it would be well to make it readily adjustable or removable.

I claim as my invention- The combination of the support and the bar,arranged adjustably to limit the approach of the head to the book orpaper without me senting between the latter and the eye any otherobject, as set forth.

DAVID MORSE.

\Vitnesses J. G. J OHNSON, J AMES SANGSTER.

